62 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



the next field before a holloa is given, for fear of 

 causing the fox to turn back. 



Q. When is a likely time for a fox to break ? 



A. When there is a sudden silence of the 

 chorus, after hounds have been running him up 

 and down the covert. They have probably been 

 pressing him too hard to give him any opportunity 

 of leaving, and he takes advantage of their being 

 at fault for a moment to slip away. 



Q. What instructions should the huntsman 

 give to the second whip when on the road ? 



A. That the pack must have plenty of room 

 accorded to it, so that the hounds have time to 

 attend to the calls of nature. 



Q. Should a huntsman ever rate or strike a 

 hound ? 



A. Not for any ordinary offences, for this is 

 the business of the whippers-in, and the hounds 

 should look upon their huntsman as their pro- 

 tector and friend. At the same time in a big 

 covert the huntsman may be the only person in a 

 position to stop riot, and then he must, of course, 

 act as circumstances warrant. In small provincial 

 packs also, where there is only one whipper-in, 

 or possibly none at all, the huntsman must per- 

 form duties that do not properly fall within 

 his sphere. 



Q. Should a huntsman constantly encourage 

 his hounds with his voice and horn ? 



A. Most certainly not, only just sufficiently 

 to let the hounds know that he is there, and 

 where he is. The incessant cheering of an ex- 

 cited huntsman soon loses its effect, or else 



